Animal trap



2 ISHEETS-SHEET l.

s.H.t0LEMAN.

ANHVIAL TRAP.

FILED MAY 26, 1921.

Jan. 16, 1923.

Mmmm

Jan. 16, 1923. 14T/12,252.

s. 11.100LEMAN.

ANIMAL TRAP.

FILED MAY 26. 1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

311 ue n tot @NM1/w06 JOZeWza@ fluor/vanas Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

PATENTOFFICE.

SAMUEL H. COLEMAN, OF VILLISCA, IOWA.

ANIMAL TRAP;

Application led May 26,

To all whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Villisca, in the county of Montgomery and State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AnimalTraps; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved animal trap, and it has particularreference to a device of this class which is of the self and eversettype, that is, a trap which'V is such in construction that after oneanimal has been caught, this animal through its interference withcertain mechanism, automatically resets the trap to catch another animaland so on.

Another object of the invention is to generally improve upon devices `ofthis class by producing one of eXtreme simplicity and durability, whichis entirely effective in opy eration and extremely inexpensive to boththe manufacturer and the user.

A further objectl of the invention is to provide an animal trapincluding a plurality of compartments, one of which is provided withinlets, and outlets and is provided with the animal controlled tripmechanism for closingthe doors, the other compartment being in the formof a cage into which the animal passes after having been entrapped inthe first compartment, anjd there being novel mechanismassociated withthe outlet door which leads into the cage to prevent the animal fromreentering the first compartment. V

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same: y y

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the trapcompartment of the device, showing more clearly the animal controlledtrip mechanism which acts on the door controlling shaft through themediumv of the mechanism there shown. p

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the 1921'. serial No. 472,779.

plane ofthe line 2-2 of Figure l, looking in the direction of thearrows, showing vclearly the general arrangement of the compartments andactuating mechanism.

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig.2 showing the outlet door which carries' means for actthe inlet dooractuating shaft against rotation.`

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line Lf lof Fig.` l.Figure 5 isfa detail section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

ing on the other mechanism for retaining Figure 6 is a perspective viewof one of the n details of the device.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail section of the spring motorl employedto'drive the crank-shaft.

Referring to the drawings, Vwherein the preferred embodiment of myinvention is clearly illustrated, it will be seen that the tangular boXwhich is open at' its opposite ends and is provided in. one vof itsvertical side walls with an opening. Both the open ends of the vbox andthe opening inthe side wall is closed by 'doors 2v and 3, the firstnamed doors being'here termed as the inlet doors while the second nameddoor 3v is here termed as the outletl door. the' outlet door 3 ishingedly mounted at 36 and communicates with a cage 4 lor other suitablecompartment, in which the animal is retained so as to permitthe firstnamed compartment 1 tolbe free to catchother animals. It is to be notedthat this doorv is formed with an opening 3a through which the lightpasses and this opening is reduced in size by extending a small strip35vacross it. In order to induce the animal to enter' and'may beautomatically rotated by any suitable means. rIlhe means employed for Bypreference,

numeral l designates a substantially recthe purpose of rotating thecrank-shaftmay 1 Aimmovable position and vanimal to enter thecompartment 1.

be ol any suitable construction. For the purpose ot illustration,however, l have shown a spring motor which embodies a casing 7 having aspring therein which serves to rotate a shaflt on which a gear S isfixed. This gear meshes with a pinion 9 which is loosely mounted on thatpart of the crank shaft 5 which projects through the adjacent side o1the trap. rllhis pinion is equipped with an integra] toothed hub-likeextension 9'LL which co-acts with a clutch 1() having a slotted sleeveextension 10a through which one end otthe crank shaft 5 extends. A smallkey 5" carried by the crank shaft is received in the open-ended slot inthe sleeve 10iL and the clutch member is thus coupled to the shaft insuch a. manner as to permit it to rotate therewith and to permit it toslide thereon for the purpose ot' permitting` free rotation of thepinion 9 inl one direction When it is desired to rapidly unwind thespring. flat spring 11 co-acts with the clutch member to hold it inoperative engagement With the atoresaidhub 9a. y A suitable handle 11ais for the purpose of Winding the spring. lVith this arrangement, it isobvious that When the spring is being Wound to tension it and drive thecrank-shaft for operating the trap doors, the toothed hub ot the pinionsimply ratchets over the teeth ot' the clutch member and does so'without effecting' rotation ot the crank-shaft due to the fact that itis loosely mounted on said shaft. However, it the pinion driven by thespringin an opposite direction, that isfrom right to left, it Will beseen that the shaft will be rotated in this direction, due to the factthat the pinion becomes coupled to the shaft through the medium of theclutchl member.

lt is desirable to retain the doors 2 in elevated positions in order toinduce the Various means may be employed tor this purpose, this meansbeing here shown in the itorm ot a pair ot levers 12 and 13 which arepivotally mounted intermediate their ends on opposite vertical Walls otthe coinpartment 1, each lever havingone end arranged to extend beneathand engage the adjacent crank port-ion ot the shatt 5 to preventrotationv ot the latter. lt is necessary in order to have these leversperform the above named function, to retain them against pivotalmovement, and suitable means is employed tor this purpose. Since. as itwill be seen from carefully examining the drawings, the lever 12operated by mechanism entirely independent of the mechanism foroperating the lever 13, the tvvo different mechanisms will be separatelydescribed for the purpose ot clearness. The mechanism tor retaining thelever 12 in permitting it to swing on its pivot at the v,proper time, is

in the form of trip mechanism which is actuated by the Weight of theanimal who interferes with it. The trip device last referred to, is moreclearly disclosed in Fig. 1. By reference to this figure, it Will beseen that it comprises a transverse pivotally mounted platform 1e whichcarries a rigidy upright 15, the latter having operative connection bymeans ot' a link 15a with a movable bar 16 which carries a shoulder 17beneath which one end ot' the pivoted arm 19 is arranged in order toretain the parts in immovable or operative position. A stop 18, isemployed Jfor the pui'- pose ot' limiting swinging movement of the bar16 in one direction anda guide eye 20 is employed for connecting thelever 12 and arm 19 together and by this construction the upwardmovement of the lever 12 is limited. A stop (not shown) could beemployed for limiting the movement of the arm 19 in one direction. Forthe purpose of returning the platform 14 to its normal position and alsoreturning the parts With Which it coacts to operative position, a coiledspring 22 is employed. lVith this construction. and arrangement otparts, it will be seen that as the animal enters the compartment 1 andpasses therethrough, he will tread upon the platform 14, causing thelatter to swing downward toward the bottom ot the conipartment againstthe action otl the spring 22. ln so doing, the parts 15 and 1G withwhich it is connected will be moved to the dotted line positions andWill cause disen gagement of the shoulder 17 from the member 19. Then,the lever 12 Will. move upwardly and its inner end will become dis-yengaged from the crank shaft 5 and per mit rotation of the latter in thedirection indicated by the arrow. It is obvious, that as the crank shaftrotates, the links 6 will take the dotted line position here indicatedand will move the doors 2, with which they are connected, to yclosedkposition and the animal will be entrapped.

The lever 13 already referred to. is operated by a similar mechanismWhich ris lcaused to become effective by the closingvot the outlet door3 atter the latter has been pushed open by the ranimal trying to escapethrough it. This mechanism includes a Weighted lever 23 which is'pivoted intermediate its ends on the outlet door 3. this lever havingr alaterally turned end :'34: on which the adjacent end ot' the lever 1?.'rests when the door 3 is closed. 'flhe downward, movement ot' theWeighted lever 23 is liinited by means ot a stop 25 on the door Thelever 13 is retained in operative position, as is the lever 12, by meansoi a keeper 26 which is provided with a shoulder 27 which engages it asclearly disclosed in Fig. 5. A spring 28 of suitable construction isconnected to the lever 13 for the purpose walls of the compartment 1,there-being a rod 31 which is connected to the door 3 slidable in thistubular member 30. A coiled spring 32 surrounds.- the member 30 and lisconnected thereto andialso to the shoulder.

33 on the ro-d 31, it being obvious that this spring serves toautomatically close the outlet door 3'. Attention is directed at thispoint to the fact that one of the linksV 5 adjacentthe mechanismjustvdescribed, engages behind the shoulder 33 when the end' doors 2 areopen and serves to prevent movement of therod 31 and thus locks theoutlet doors against opening. Link '6 only engages the shoulder when thedoors are in an open position and as soon vas the doors are moved toclosed position, this `link `is raised to the dotted line positionindicated in Fig. 3 and is automatically disengaged from the shoulder.Thus, relative sliding movement of the parts 30 and 31 is thenpermitted.

Although it is thought that the foregoing description is sufficient toenable persons who read this specification to obtain'a clearunderstandingof the operation thereof, it is deemed advisable to brieliyreview the operation of the device, which is as follows:

Assuming that the variousparts of the device are in the position shownin full'lines in various views which would position the inlet doors 2 inelevated positions, the entranceof the animal into'the compartment 1would be unobstructed. The animal, of course, could enter thecompartment 1 from either end. As it enters, it will naturally walk uponthe platform 14 and in so doing will tilt the same towards the bottom ofthe compartment as indicated in dotted lines. Such movement of theplatform will impart movement' to the member 16 through' the medium ofthe part 15 and the arm 19 will become-disengaged from the shoulder 17,

permitting the adjacent end ofthe lever 12l to move upwardly due to thepressure exerted on the opposite end thereof by the spring rotated crankshaft 5. As the lever 12 moves to this position, the crank shaft willrotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1forapproximately vone-half a revolution. Rotation of the crank shaftinthis manner will close the inlet doors 2,

and the previously unengaged'crank portion of the shaft 5 will becomeengaged with'the lever 13 and will be prevented from against furtherrotation thus retaining the. inlet*y doors in closed position. Theanimal being trapped in the compartment 1 and seeing the light whichcomes through the opening 3EL in the outlet'door will naturally try tomake a get-away through this door.v Pressure exerted by the animalagainst the outlet door will move it inwardly into the cage 4 and willpermit him to entery thelatter, from which there is no escape. As theoutlet door returns to its'n'ormal closed position, the weighted leverv23 which has then assumed an inclined position, will cause the lateralend 24 thereof to strike the lever13 and disengage it from the shoulder2,7. `The lever v13 will then be free to move'on its pivot and as in thecase with the lever 12,.` the .pressure being exerted on its'outer-endby the spring rotated crank shaft, will move it to such a position as topermit the crank shaft to rotate for another half revolution spring 28will again engage the lever 13.

with its lockingshoulder 27` and the same spring will automaticallyreturn `the `weighted lever 23 to its effectivefposition, that is to theposition. in which it is shown in Fig. To explain this more thoroughly,it is to be stated that the lever 23 only has'limited swinging movementVand when the innerend ofthe lever is disengaged and moved to ineffectiveposition, the adjacent VendL of the latter swings above the' laterally:directed end 24 ofthe weighted lever and when the spring 28 comes intoplay,'this end of the lever 13` strikes the lug 24 and automaticallyreturns the lever 23 tof operative position.

yThe spring28 must therefore be sufficiently ico -iio i pivot. As beforedescribed, -as the inlet doors-2'move to open position one of the links6 which are connected therewith will engage vthe shoulder 33 of the4outletfdoor retaining device, and will prevent possible opening of thisdoor. y f l From the foregoing description. it will be seen that l havedevised aselfandl ever-set trapl of considerable utility, which -isvreliable in operation, strong,"durable and in expensive to manufacture.Quite a number of animals may be caught before it is necessary torewind. the'spring of themotor 7 to insure rotation of the dooroperating shaft. Y*

A careful consideration of the foregoing description taken in connectionwith they accompanying drawings ywill enable persons skilled in the artto which this inventiony Cil 'for closing said openings, said inlet doorbeing normally open and said outlet door being normally closed and movedto open position by the animal, an automatically rotatable shaftarranged in said body, a con` nection between said shaft and inlet doorfor automatically opening and closing the latter,

animal actuated means supported on one side of said body and co-operablewith said shaft for releasing the latter anl permitting a limitedrotation thereof for closing said inlet door, and separate andindependent means co-operable with the outlet door and also cooperablewith said shaft for releasing the latter whenk the outlet door is movedto open position and resumes its normal closed position.

2. An animal trap comprising a body provided with inlet and outletopenings, doors for closing saidsopenings, the outlet door beingnormally closed, an automatically rotatable shaft arranged in said body,animal actuated means for releasing said shaft for permitting rotationthereof, holding and checking means supported in said body andco-operable with said shaft for limiting the rotation thereof, and meanssup` ported on said outlet door for engaging said holding and checkingmeans to .release the latter after said last named door is svfung toopen position and resumes its normal closed position, whereby said shaftwill be permitted to again rotate until checked by the first namedanimal actuated means.

3. An animal trap comprising a body provided with inlet and outletopenings, pivoted doors closing said openings, an automaticallyrotatable crank shaft arranged .in said body, a connection between saidcranl shaft and inlet door for actuating the latter. animal actuatedmeansco-operable with said shaft for releasing the latter to permitinitial rotation thereof for closing said inlet door, said means beingautomatically returned to a position to act as a stop for limiting therotation of said shaft when the latter is actuated to swing the inletdoor open again, a lever pivoted in said body and having one of its endsengageable With said shaft to act as holding and checking means for saidshaft, a bracket having a shoulder with Which said lever is co-operablefor retaining the latter 1n operative position, and

means carried by said outlet door for strik-k mounted doors for closingsaid openings,

said outlet door being normally closed, an automatically rotatable crankshaft supported in said body, a connection between said shaft and inletdoor for actuating the latter, animal actuated vmeans in said body forreleasing said shaft :to permit initial rotation thereof for closingsaid inlet'door, a lever pivoted between its ends on one side of thebody, having its inner end positioned for engagement with said crankshaft for checking and holding the latter to limit the rotation thereofat the time the inlet door is closed, a bracket secured to the same sideof said body adjacent said outlet opening, said bracket including ashoulder with which the other end of said lever is normally engaged,

automatically operable means carried by said outlet door for disengagingsaid lever from said shoulder When said outlet doorpis swung to closedposition, after being opened and unitary means in said body andco-operable With said lever for automatically re` engaoinfT the latterwith said-shoulder and Y Q C D for automatically returning said lastnamed means to inoperative position.

G. The structure set forth in claim 5, the means carried by said outletdoor being a lever pivoted between its ends, being weighted at one endand h `ving a lateral extension at its opposite end which is designed toengage'said rst named lever. .7. An animal trap comprising a body hav.-ng inlet and outlet openings, doors for closng these openings,anautomatically rotatable crank shaft arranged in said body, a.connection between said shaft and inlet door, spring actuated meansincluding a shoulder for automatically closing and maintaining theoutlet door closed until the inlet door is closed, the aforesaidconnection normally engaging said shoulder to prevent opening of theoutlet door until the inlet door is closed. o

8. The structure set forth in claim 7, said spring actuated meansbeingin the form of a spring-controlled telescopng member, one

part of which is connected to the body andl the other part to the outletdoor.

9. An animal trap comprising a body provided in one side with an outletopening and at one end with an inlet opening, doors .closing saidopenings, a transversely disposed automatically rotatable crankshaft inthe body, a link connected to the shaft and inlet door, a sleeveconnected to one of the side walls of the body opposite the outlet door,a rod connected to this door and slidable in said sleeve, a shoulder onsaid rod, and a coiled spring surrounding the sleeve and connected tothe shoulder, serving to resist extension of the rod and sleeve, theaforesaid link engaging behind said shoulder and preventing extension ofthey sleeve and rod when the inlet door is open.

l0. An animal trap comprising a body provided with inlet and outletopenings, pivoted doors for closing said openings, the outlet door beingnormally closed, an automatically rotatable shaft arranged in said body,a pivoted lever having one of its ends engaged with said shaft to holdthe latter yagainst rotation, a movable member including a shoulder withwhich the opposite end of said lever co-operates for normally retainingsaidv lever in operative position, animal actuated means co-operablewith said movable member for disengaging said lever from said shaft,means for automatically returning the latter to operative position, andholding and checking means for the shaft controlled by said outlet door.

1l. An animal trap comprising a body provided with inlet and outletopenings, pivoted doors for closing said openings, the

outlet door being normally closed and the inlet door being open, anautomatically rotated crank shaft supported in said body, a connectionbetween said shaft and inlet door for actuating the latter, a leverpivoted between its ends on one of the side walls of the body, havingits inner end engaged with said shaft for holding the latter againstro-` tation, means co-operatingwith the opposite end of said lever forholding said lever im-` movable, an animal actuated trip device asoteddoors for closing said openings, an automatically rotated crank shaftsupported in saidbOdy, a connection between said shaft.

and inlet door for' actuating the latter,- `a lever pivoted between itsends on one side of said body and having its inner end engaged with saidshafty for holding the latter against rotation to maintain the inletdoor open, a pivotally mounted shouldered arm associated with theopposite endl of said lever for holding the latter against movement,ananimal vtilted platform arranged in said body, a connection between saidplatform and arm for moving the latter to permit movement of said leverfor disengaging said crank shaft and permitting rotation thereof, meansfor automatically returning said platform to its normal position, andseparate and independent means supported on the opposite side of thebody and controlled by` said outlet door for co-operation with saidshaft for checking and holding the latter when the inlet door is movedto closed position. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

SAMUEL H. COLEMAN.

